THE end of the feed lot section of the 2016 Sullivan Livestock Gympie Carcass Classic saw variable weight gains in the cattle entered.

While weight gains are not the only final judging criteria, cattle do have to fit into the rules that state a dressed weight of between 200-280kg. This range is decided upon to fit into the market requirements for the animals entered.

It became apparent that animals at the top end of live weight were not going to meet the dressed weight limits and would not be eligible for all prize classes.

Graziers and organisers were pleased with this year’s format which included for the first time a backgrounding period. During the backgrounding animals gained up to 30kg and this meant they entered into the feed lot heavier than was expected.

The final on feed section of the Classic was conducted at Gympie Saleyards after the cattle had been trucked down from Windera feedlot.

Nolan Meats’ Terry Nolan acted as “ringmaster” for each group of animals that entered the sale ring.

Mr Nolan asked for the owners of the animals in the ring to make comments about their cattle regarding weight gains, fat cover, bone dressing percentage and where they thought their animals rated overall.

Agriculture high school students from Gympie, Aldridge, Murgon, Kilcoy, Nanango and Kingaroy who had cattle entered or were present as part of a judging competition were often asked by Mr Nolan to make assessments.

The assessment meant that graziers had to put their ideas of what they were trying to produce and how well that had happened out in front of their peers.

As Mr Nolan explained, especially for the students, the ability to express your ideas in front of a knowledgeable audience is a valuable attribute towards future employment prospects.

Average weight gain for the 86 days on feed was 1.54kg per day. Five animals gained more than 2kg per day and those five had a weight of more than or just under 500kg live, that based on a dressing percentage of 58% would put them over the upper limit.

One animal had a series of large warty growths on the sheath that Gympie vet Justin Schooth said occurs most often on younger animals, and as the animal gets older and the immune system gets better the warts disappear.

A number of comments were made about how quietly the animals behaved in the ring and a lot of this was attributed to the handling at the feedlot where owners and staff walked among the cattle on a daily basis.